A Randomized Controlled Trial of gEneral aneStheSia vs consciOUs Sedation in Radial endobronChial Ultrasound for Peripheral Pulmonary lEsions
The endoscopic investigation of lung lesions is experiencing significant growth with the increasing number of lung cancer screening programs. Peripheral endobronchial ultrasound (pEBUS) is the most widely used endoscopic technique in the investigation of peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPL). It is performed in relatively equal proportions under conscious sedation and general anesthesia by interventional pulmonologists throughout the world. Users of conscious sedation justify themselves by the fewer resources consumed and the absence of demonstration of a superior diagnostic yield of general anesthesia while users of general anesthesia claim diagnostic yield and comfort for the patient are superior with their approach. Our main objective is to compare the diagnostic yield of pEBUS under general anesthesia to that obtained under conscious sedation.
• Age ≥ 18 years and ability to consent
• Peripheral lung lesion less than 5cm in average diameter on axial CT images (A lung lesion will be considered peripheral if it is located beyond the origin of the subsegmental bronchi and presumed not to be visible endoscopically in white light during the evaluation of the CT scan by an interventional pulmonologist.)
• Lesion deemed accessible by pEBUS by an experienced interventional pulmonologist
• Decision by the medical team and the patient to use pEBUS as a diagnostic modality for the lung lesion